Your Role as an Instructor
As a group exercise instructor, you are also an educator who inspires learning and growth. Delivering the educational portion of the class is just as important as demonstrating proper form or exercise modifications.
When done effectively, the education portion helps participants:
- Stay engaged
- Retain key messages
- Build habits that reduce fall risk
Best Practices for Delivering Weekly Education
1) Prepare in Advance
- Review the weekly script before class.
- Familiarize yourself with the topic, handouts, and key phrases.
- Consider how you might personalize it with an example or story.
2) Start with Education
- Begin each class with the educational tip of the week.
- Positioning it before the Warm-Up which will help set the tone for the day.
3) Distribute Handouts
- Give out printed materials after you introduce the topic.
- For those with vision challenges, read highlights aloud.
- Encourage participants to read them at home, share with loved ones, and even speak with their healthcare provider.
4) Encourage Engagement
- Ask a question or invite a quick reflection to spark conversation and deeper understanding of the educational tip that was just discussed.
- Ask a simple question:
- “What’s one thing in your home you’ve already made safer?”
- “Have you ever thought about how your footwear affects your balance?”
- Invite brief reflection, but don’t force participation.
5) Follow Up
- Revisit the topic at the next class (e.g., Monday tips at Wednesday class).
- This ensures those who miss a class still hear the core message.
- It also helps with repetition and retention.
- Ask if anything stood out or if participants have questions.
- “Did anything from our last class stand out or stick with you?”
- Remind participants that they can and should also speak with their healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Each week, you’ll focus on one (1) educational topic, such as the Fear of Falling and repeat it across all your sessions that week. So, whether you teach two or three times a week, participants who miss a class will still have the opportunity to hear and engage with that week’s message.
Your educational message should take 2–4 minutes, leaving about a minute for discussion (five-minute segment). Think of it like planting a seed. The goal is to spark awareness and get participants thinking. You’re not delivering a lecture, just a meaningful takeaway that pairs with movement.
In Summary
Educational delivery doesn’t need to be formal or complex, it just needs to be clear, consistent, and participant-focused. When you build this habit into your teaching style, it becomes second nature and has a lasting impact on your participants’ lives.